Manila, Philippines (1995)
Date: 10-15 January 1995
Pontificate: John Paul II
Theme: “As the Father sent me, so am I sending you” (John 20: 21)
Song: Tell the world of his love
No WYD before 1995 had so many participants. There were about 5 million people, a record that is still unbeaten today and included in the Guinness Book of Records. There were even representatives of all the Chinese Catholic communities and, at the end of the Eucharistic Celebration in Luneta Park, the Pope greeted them in Mandarin. The Pontiff reminded the young people that human beings achieve perfection through the gift of self to others. In Jesus’ mandate to his disciples, and also to young people, the dimension of giving is implicitly embedded. To respond to the mandate is more than simply asking for something or being given an opportunity, because both the response to the call and the giving of oneself, are two sides of the same coin, being a better version of yourself. “It is like the light of the sun, which by its nature breaks through the darkness; it is like the water of a clear spring, which gushes from the heart of a rock.” “The Church entrusts to young people the task of proclaiming to the world the joy which springs from having met Christ.” In the words that the Pope addressed to young people, he continually reminded them to become “enthusiastic communicators of the saving Word”, to allow themselves to be “enthralled” by Christ, and to be builders of peace with roots that “lie within our hearts if we know how to respond to the greeting of the Risen Redeemer: Peace be with you”.
All of the Holy Father’s speeches in Manila: https://www.vatican.va/content/john-paul-ii/en/travels/1995/travels/documents/trav_asia-oceania.html
Summary based on the data sheet published by frontierarieti.com, organ of the Diocese of Rieti.